"Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza Elevates Comedic Masculinity"

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is set to blend serious drama with comedic flair, according to developer RGG Studio. Dive deeper to discover the exciting features planned for the game.

Featuring "Serious" Majima

But There’ll Still Be Goofing Off

The latest addition to the beloved Like a Dragon series is poised to stretch the limits of reality while delivering a "manly drama" storyline, as revealed by RGG Studio in an interview with Automaton Media.

While the series is renowned for its humor, with Majima often hailed as one of its most comedic characters, RGG Studio director Masayoshi Yokoyama emphasized that this iteration of Majima will adopt a "more serious" demeanor, particularly at the outset of the narrative.

Ryosuke Horii, the producer behind Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, elaborated on Yokoyama's remarks, highlighting the "manly drama" at the heart of the game. This drama captures Majima's fervent pursuit of his ambitions and the bonds he forms on his extraordinary journey. "The goofing off isn't the main focus – there's a manly drama at the core of it all. Of course, there are some wild detours, but fundamentally, it's a straightforward story about a passionate man," Horii explained.

Horii further noted that Majima brings a unique quality to the series that even the long-standing protagonist Kazuma Kiryu cannot match. As translated by Automaton, "If we didn't fully capitalize on that, there'd be no reason to make Majima the protagonist. That's why we've pushed the boundaries of reality a bit more than we would with Kiryu, aiming to provide players with action that's rich and varied. ... I wanted to strike a good balance between the pirate theme, Majima's character, and the essence of 'Ryu ga Gotoku,' which was quite challenging."

The game promises to strike the perfect balance between realism and extravagance, ensuring the gameplay remains wild and engaging while maintaining a serious and compelling drama.

Majima Maji Festival In Japan

In celebration of the game's upcoming release, RGG Studio is hosting a special themed event named Majima's Maji Festival across six Japanese cities. The event kicked off on December 1st, 2024, in Sapporo, and is nearing its conclusion with stops in Nagoya on January 18th and Tokyo on January 25th. If you're fortunate enough to be in either city on those dates, be sure to attend for a fun-filled experience!

The latest installment of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, features the iconic "The Mad Dog of Shimano" Goro Majima as the protagonist. With its thrilling combat system, exhilarating naval battles, vibrant characters, and heartfelt story, it promises to offer a unique modern-day pirate adventure.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is scheduled for release on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One on February 21st.